D&D 5E Polymorph at higher levels - no beasts left?

[vlysses]

Hehe, yes, the frog debuffing is fun, it's true that I was looking at it more from a buffing perspective - otherwise it's more of a save or die spell, akin to banishment for priests, but more fun [emoji16]

 

[Illithidbix]

The monsters by type pdf is very useful for Wild Shape and Polymorph: http://media.wizards.com/2015/downloads/dnd/DnD_MonstersByType_1.0.pdf

The CR 5+

Triceratops 5
Giant crocodile 5
Mammoth 6
Giant ape 7
Tyrannosaurus rex 8

Otherwise I concur with Hemlock that a receptive DM who wants bigger beasts could happily improvise.
I probably wouldn't ask them to stat one in the midst of combat myself though.

 

[Frankie1969]

Obvious option, retaining the Beast limitation:

At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 5th level or higher, you can target one additional creature for each slot level above 4th. The targets must all be within 30 feet of each other, and all affected targets transform into the same type of beast, whose CR is no higher than the target creature with the lowest CR or level.

Alternately, since Polymorph is level 4 and the largest thing it can make RAW is CR 8, this suggests a mathematical scaling option:

At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 5th level or higher, you can polymorph the target into a creature whose CR is no higher than twice the spell slot level. (You must consult your DM in advance to preselect the allowed forms.) This is still subject to limitation by the target's CR or level.

 

[Jared Ferreira]

um.. maybe i am just crazy but am i the only one that does not view CR as a 1 to 1 conversion to a character ? CR is a rating based off a party level not an individual one so you would have to divide by 4 to get the equivalent CR meaning the highest CR you can hit is 5 at lvl 20. no wonder everyone hates the t-rex you should never be able to turn into that.

 

[Ovinomancer]

um.. maybe i am just crazy but am i the only one that does not view CR as a 1 to 1 conversion to a character ? CR is a rating based off a party level not an individual one so you would have to divide by 4 to get the equivalent CR meaning the highest CR you can hit is 5 at lvl 20. no wonder everyone hates the t-rex you should never be able to turn into that.

1. Welcome!
2. This thread is 2 1/2 years old.
3. No, CR doesn't work like that at all in 5th. There's a formula in the DMG for figuring CR that can be used if you really want to know a character's CR. As for CR being a party threat rating, it's not, it just a benchmark loosely tied to average party level, but a CR = party level is usually only an easy challenge for the party.
4. Welcome!

 

[Jared Ferreira]

1. Welcome!
2. This thread is 2 1/2 years old.
3. No, CR doesn't work like that at all in 5th. There's a formula in the DMG for figuring CR that can be used if you really want to know a character's CR. As for CR being a party threat rating, it's not, it just a benchmark loosely tied to average party level, but a CR = party level is usually only an easy challenge for the party.
4. Welcome!

i have only recently started playing and just got poly so im trying to figure out what i can really do with it
and thanks for the welcome

ill try to track down where it is in the DM thanks for the point in the right direction

 

[Jared Ferreira]

i have only recently started playing and just got poly so im trying to figure out what i can really do with it
and thanks for the welcome

ill try to track down where it is in the DM thanks for the point in the right direction

seems like CR 5 would be high end of the spectrum for LVL 8 (my level) and cr 4 might be a good fit

 

[smbakeresq]

The problem with polymorph into some high CR beasts is size, they might not fit the area you are in. Then you have to use the spell the other way, to shrink them.

 

[Jared Ferreira]

The problem with polymorph into some high CR beasts is size, they might not fit the area you are in. Then you have to use the spell the other way, to shrink them.

yea im trying to be very mindful of that which is why i'm tearing through critters compendium as well as others to find more variety of beasts both as defensive/ combat assists and offensive bad guy in time out spells. just wanted to figure out my CR range and i did no like the idea that me at level 8 could turn into a trex just seemed to strong when calculated that way so basically i want to be weaker lol oddly enough

 

[jgsugden]

Having use Polymorph to make my wizards into T-Rex and Giant Apes at high level - it is fine as is. They're the right power level 'cap' for a 4th level spell.